Tag Archives: traffic

How To Find Out Who The Domain Owner Is

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Hosting

The post How To Find Out Who The Domain Owner Is appeared first on HostGator Blog . How To Find Out Who The Domain Owner Is Choosing a domain name is the first step in launching your dream website. However, choosing the perfect domain name can be a lengthy process. You’ve spent time brainstorming domain names, and you’ve finally found the perfect one. You go to register your domain and find that it’s already been registered. This doesn’t have to be the end of the road. You can figure out who the owner of the domain is and get in touch to see if they’d be willing to sell it. You might pay a bit more than registering a fresh domain , but getting that perfect domain could be worth it. Below you’ll learn the benefits of uncovering who owns a domain name, and how to do exactly that. Why Do People Buy Domains? A lot of people buy domains without actually using them. If you’ve found a domain that’s registered, but the site is empty or has a landing page provided by a hosting company, then there’s a solid chance the domain is available for purchase. In some cases, you’ll be able to purchase the site entirely, even if it’s already built-out. Maybe the owner decided to move onto other projects and hasn’t updated the site in quite some time. If this is the case, you should expect to pay a bit more , but if the traffic levels are low the number won’t be outlandish.   The Benefits of Knowing Who Owns a Domain Before you being the process of digging to find the owner of a domain name, it’s important to understand why you’re doing it. Being able to look up who owns a domain name can be very useful for a few reasons:   1. To Get in Touch With a Domain Owner If you want a purchase a domain that’s already registered, then you’ll need to get in touch with the owner. By finding out who the owner is you can inquire about purchasing the domain name.   2. To Uncover the Ideal Time to Reach Out By using WHOIS information you’ll be able to see when a domain is about to expire. This can help you time your bid, so you can reach out with an offer right before the domain is set to expire, or needs to be renewed.   3. Correct Your Own Information If you’ve already registered a domain name in the past, then you might want to verify that your domain name information is accurate. This is especially true if you’ve purchased domains with the intent of selling them down the road.   How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name Finding a domain owner’s information isn’t that difficult. To do this, we’re going to be using the website called WHOIS. This site essentially answers the question: who owns a certain domain name or IP address? Whenever someone registers a domain name they must provide relevant contact information. To perform a domain lookup navigate to the site: https://whois.icann.org/en , and enter the domain name you’d like to lookup. As long as the domain owner isn’t using a proxy or domain privacy service to shield their information, then you’ll be given relevant contact information. Usually, you’ll find information like: Where they registered their domain The owner’s email address and phone number The domain expiration date When the domain was registered You’ll find more information as well, but the above elements will be the most useful to you.   I’ve Found the Domain Owner, Now What? If you’re still interested in making an offer for the domain name, then you’ll have a few different options. The first is reaching out to the owner via email and expressing interest in buying the domain name . The second is using a domain name broker who will handle the negotiation and transfer process for you. There are services like Sedo , which will handle the entire process on your behalf for a fee, o r you can use the HostGator domain tool and place an offer directly through the site. In cases where the domain owner’s information has been hidden, your best bet is to get in touch via the site’s contact form.    Conclusion Hopefully, you have a better understanding of how you can use the Whois lookup feature to find the owner of a domain name. If you run into a domain owner who either isn’t willing to sell the domain or is asking too much that means it’s time to cut your losses and continue your domain search. With hundreds of thousands of potential domain names still available, and a multitude of domain name extensions to choose from you’re bound to find the right domain for your needs. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Why Your Business Should Be Using A Virus Removal Tool

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Hosting

The post Why Your Business Should Be Using A Virus Removal Tool appeared first on HostGator Blog . Why Your Small Business Should Be Using a Virus Removal Tool As a small business owner, you need to take steps to protect your business. We’re not just talking about insurance or even legal stuff, but something else entirely—your business website. If your website isn’t properly protected you’re leaving yourself susceptible to viruses that can make using your site difficult, and even compromise your website as a whole. Finding a solid virus removal tool will help protect your website from hackers and ensure it’s always safe and protected. Below you’ll learn why your small business needs to use a virus removal tool and the steps you can take to get started. A Virus Can Harm Any Business, No Matter How Small When your computer has a virus it can be an inconvenience, or even make your computer non-operational. Plus, some forms of malware can steal sensitive information like credit card info, or banking information. As a result, you probably already have some form of virus protection installed on your computer. But, what about your website? If you’re using your website for business , then this is an asset that needs to be protected, just like your computer. A lot of website owners think that just keeping their website, themes, and plugins up to date will be enough. Although this will protect you against past security holes it won’t protect you from newer security risks. Most software is updated only after security vulnerabilities are found. Don’t let your website be the testing ground for finding these leaks and security holes. A virus can not only harm your website. But, it can ruin your reputation as well. For example, if your site is infected any sensitive customer information might be compromised. If a user visits your site, and they have anti-virus software installed, then they’ll be warned to leave your site. This makes you come across as spammy. They won’t have any idea of knowing who installed the virus, and the chances are high that they won’t return to your site. As a result, you suffer an immediate loss in user trust and a drop in traffic as well.   The Overall Cost of a Virus A virus removal tool can be a small investment compared to the overall damage it can wreak on your small business. Instead of having to reach out to customers to let them know their data has been compromised, or having to essentially restart your website from scratch, you can simply invest in a virus protection and removal tool. A virus does more than just take down your website. It can potentially ruin your business. Think about the cost of losing your customers for life. Or, the traffic that lands on your infected website and never comes back again. You’ve spent a lot of time and energy designing your website . It’s time to protect it, just as you would your home.   What Does a Virus Removal Tool Do? A virus removal tool will not only scan and remove any kinds of viruses that may be installed on your site, but it’ll keep you protected from it ever happening in the first place. You’ll get access to different features depending upon the tool you choose, but it’ll generally be equipped with the following: A regular malware scanner to detect and delete any malware or viruses A firewall to prevent any DDoS and other forms of attacks A feature to help prevent website blacklisting (this could destroy your search engine rankings) An alert system to let you know of any potential risks, or out of date software Overall, a virus removal tool is an easy investment to make, and your website and visitors will be protected over the long run.   How to Pick the Right Virus Removal Tool for Your Website There are a variety of tools that will help your website stay safe and secure online. If you’re a WordPress user, there are numerous security plugins like: WordFence Sucuri BulletProof Security All In One WP Security However, if you’re currently using HostGator to host your site , then you should consider the SiteLock service . As an add-on to your hosting package, you’ll get regular malware scans and removal, along with features to help prevent website blacklisting.   It’s Time to Protect Your Site Most small business owners understand the need to protect their personal and business computers, but hopefully, you now see why protecting your website is also a must. Remember, it’s a good idea to invest in a virus removal tool before it’s too late. When it comes to online security prevention is always the best route to take. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Benefits of Using A Website Security Checker

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Hosting

The post Benefits of Using A Website Security Checker appeared first on HostGator Blog . Benefits of Using A Website Security Checker Website security isn’t usually something we think about until it’s too late. Think of securing your website like securing your home. Things like locks, security cameras, and alarm systems help to keep you protected. The same can be said for your website. By using a website security checker you’re keeping your website secure, which not only benefits your website but your users as well. Below you’ll learn what a website security checker actually does, and the benefits it can bring to your website.   Why Does a Website Security Checker Do? Website security scanners regularly check and monitor your site to look for any security weaknesses. Typically, these scans happen on a regular basis and a security tool will check for known threats, malware, and blacklists to ensure there aren’t any issues. If a problem does arise, say your site is infected with malware, you’ll receive an alert and be given the best course of action to take to clean up and protect your site. Most of these tools will also be able to remove any viruses, malware, and other security threats that might be compromising your site. Unless you’re a security expert, finding and removing these is going to be near impossible. Most website security scanners will also be equipped with features like: Regular site backups, in case you need to restore your site to a previous uninfected version. An integrated firewall to protect your site from SQL injection attacks, DDoS attacks, and dreaded comment spam. Put simply, a website security checker will regularly scan your site for security issues, remove any malware or other threats, and employ different tactics to keep your site safe and secure on a regular basis .   4 Benefits of Using a Website Security Checker Without a website security checker, you’re leaving your site open to attack. Hacking does happen, and it can have some unfortunate consequences if you’re the target. Keep reading to learn about the biggest benefits you’ll receive when you use a website security checker:   1. No Chance of a Reputation Nightmare Keeping your visitor’s trust is important. There are a lot of things you can do to improve visitor trust, like having an authoritative design, producing high-quality content, creating an intuitive user experience, and never spamming. However, even if you’re doing all of these, having your site hacked is a one-way ticket towards destroying all that trust you’ve built. Imagine a visitor goes to your site and your traffic is being hijacked and they’re sent to a site that installs malware on their computer. Or, imagine you go to your site and your links all redirect to a spammy site. Or, even worse, imagine a hacker steals all of your sensitive customer data. All of these scenarios are real. But, they can be protected by using a website security checker . This security tool will help to protect your site from the above issues and more. If a security threat arises it’ll be taken care of before it becomes an issue. 2. Regular Protection From Security Vulnerabilities There are a lot of threats out there on the internet. Most websites aren’t 100% protected, as most software and CMS have vulnerabilities. By keeping all of your software, plugins , themes, and apps up to date you’re defended against known security risks, but what about unknown risks? With a security checker, you’re protected against present and future risks – all without having to take care of it yourself.   3. Complete Peace of Mind Imagine being able to rest at complete ease knowing your site is always protected. With a website security checker, you’ll never have to worry about logging into your site, only to find it compromised. It’s simple. Your site will always be protected, and you don’t have to lift a finger. Just let the software do its job.   4. Improved Site Performance If your site is experiencing a DDoS attack or has a malware infection it’s not going to be functioning properly. In some cases, not at all. A website security checker will not only protect against threats that’ll slow down your site but usually, there are built-in features that’ll improve your site’s performance as well. For instance, by utilizing a CDN you’re not only improving the security of your site, but you’re improving its performance as well.   Stay Secure with a Website Security Checker Using a website security checker will help to keep your site safe and secure without any added work on your end. Remember, it’s never too early to start thinking about the security of your site. For HostGator customers, we recommend Sitelock . It doesn’t just scan for malware; it removes it immediately. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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How Much Is My Website Worth?

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Hosting

The post How Much Is My Website Worth? appeared first on HostGator Blog . How Much Is My Website Worth – Knowing When To Sell You’ve put a lot of time and energy into your website. After another long day of typing away at your keyboard and working away at your website, you’re probably wondering, what’s the end goal? Some people create websites for the love of it, or as a necessity for their small business. Some people create sites with the goal to eventually sell their site down the road. Have you ever thought about selling your site and asked yourself the question, “How much is my website worth?” This post is for you. Below we’ll show you how to determine how much your website is worth, so you can answer the question, should I sell my website? Should You Sell Your Website? If your website has been generating consistent revenue, then it is up to you whether you want to continue that monthly income, or try and cash out for a lump sum payment. Ultimately, choosing to sell your website is up to you. If you’ve been generating consistent revenue, have decreased expenses as much as possible, and optimized your revenue streams, then you’re in a solid position to sell. If this sounds like you, then it could be time to sell your site: You feel like your site has reached it’s potential, both in income and traffic. You feel bored with your current site or frustrated that it’s still taking up your time. You want to cash out and move onto other opportunities. Selling your site should be something you’re excited about and not something you feel forced or pressured into.   How Much is Your Website Worth? There isn’t a way to determine the exact amount you’ll get for your website. But, you can get a general range that’ll be pretty close to what you can expect to get for the sale. To get a sense for how much your website is worth you’ll multiply your monthly or yearly profit times a certain multiple. How large that multiple is depends upon what kind of site you run, its legacy of income, its traffic sources, and a lot more. The general equation is: ( your monthly revenue)  multiplied by (a factor of 24-36) . However, this multiple will vary based upon a variety of factors. Below we explore how you can both determine and increase the amount you’ll get for the sale: Your Net Profit — How much does your website actually make? What’s your yearly or monthly net profit after expenses? The higher this number the better. Long-Term Profit — Have you been consistently generating revenue for years? Or, are you experiencing an income spike? Buyers like to see steady, or increasing income, month after month. Multiple Revenue Streams — How many revenue streams do you have? If you rely on a single revenue stream your site could be risky. While if you’re diversified across things like your own product income, advertising, and affiliate products, you’ll get a higher multiple. Multiple Traffic Streams — If your site relies on a single traffic source it could be risky if that dries up. Having a site solely based on SEO can net you more cash than an advertising-based site. But, the more traffic sources available the better. External Factors — Do you have an engaged email list ? How about active social media channels? These aren’t necessary, but they can help to improve the overall value of a sale. Time Required to Run — Does your site require you to work a 50-hour week? Or, is it optimized where you only need to put in an hour or less per day? The less time your site requires to run the more it’ll be worth. If you want to get an accurate representation of how much your current site is worth then check out the Empire Flippers valuation tool . It uses the criteria above and more to give you a general valuation of your existing site.   How to Sell Your Website Although you can technically sell your website to anyone at any time, the recommended approach is to go through a website broker. This will help get your site in front of potential buyers and help to ensure the safe transfer of your site and payment. The three most common places to sell your site are highlighted below:   1. Flippa Flippa is an auction site where people can place bids on your website. You can list your site for a certain amount, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get that amount, or that it will sell at all. They currently have around a 10% sell rate for the websites listed. You can think of it like a marketplace that’s similar to eBay. Typically, sites that are sold on Flippa end up selling for smaller amounts, however, there have been some larger deals processed through the platform.   2. Empire Flippers Empire Flippers acts as a partner in helping you sell your site. They help to walk you through the entire process, get your website in front of serious buyers, and even transfer over the site to the new owner, so you don’t have to. You can expect to pay a higher fee than listing your site on Flippa. But, if you’re selling a high-quality site, and you want it done right, then they’re worth checking out.   3. FE International FE International is an online brokerage that helps you sell your website and online business. They will work with you side by side the entire time and make it as easy as possible to sell your website or online business. With a 94.1% success rate, the chances of selling your website are high, as long as it’s high-quality.   Is Your Website Worth Selling? Hopefully, you have a better idea of when you should sell your site, how to determine how much it’s worth, and where you should consider listing your site for sale. 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FAQ Pages: What Every New Business Should Include

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Hosting

The post FAQ Pages: What Every New Business Should Include appeared first on HostGator Blog . What Every New Business Should Include on Their FAQ Page One of the most frequently asked questions about frequently asked questions is “What should I include on my FAQ page?” The obvious answer is also the least useful one, because a well-written, properly formatted FAQ page can do much more for a small or new business than provide basic information. Yes, your FAQ page can and should answer the questions your customers ask most often, but there are ways to do so that also boost your business’s visibility in search results, establish your expertise and reliability with current and prospective customers, and help you connect with prospects. How? We’re glad you asked. What Questions Should I Answer On My Business FAQ Page? First , answer any recurring questions from your customers about your specific business. Do shoppers want to know how long it takes you to paint a custom mural? What services are included in your basic bookkeeping package? How many bees you include with hive delivery? Put those Q&As at the top of your page, because they set your business apart, show its unique value, and make visitors want to stick around and learn more. For example, why lead with booking or payment information Q&As when you can lead (or is that llead) with llamas, as this backcountry outfitter does for its pack-animal rental business? Next , go ahead and answer the questions you may have answered elsewhere on your site but which visitors may have overlooked. For example, your location, contact information, shipping fees, and return policies should be on each page of your site, but don’t make visitors to your FAQ page hunt around your site for that information. They’re on the FAQ page because they want to know more about your business. Make it easy for them. Finally , and here’s where you can move beyond the basics, look at the types of searches that lead customers to your site. For example, if your analytics show that your custom cake business gets a lot of traffic from searches for “gluten-free birthday cake” then it’s a good idea to include a Q&A about it. ( “Do you offer gluten-free birthday cakes?” “Yes, we do. Simply request the gluten-free option when you order your cake and we’ll prepare everything in our gluten-free workspace so you can enjoy a cake that’s delicious, beautiful, and worry-free.” ) This type of Q&A shows that you understand what your customers are looking for and why it matters to them. (In this case, because no one with celiac disease wants to get sick from a cake with trace amounts of flour in it.)   How Can a Good FAQ Page Help My SEO? Creating Q&As using the most common search terms for your traffic can also help your site rank better in those searches because your content is now more relevant. If your questions and answers align well with specific searches, your FAQ can end up in the prized “position zero” of Google search results. For example, I searched on desktop, mobile, and with voice to ask “what vaccinations does my dog need to be boarded?” The answer in the featured snippet box comes not from a pet health magazine or veterinary association but from a boarding kennel that provides a clear, concise answer that’s easy to read on desktop and mobile screens. In a voice search , Google reads aloud all but the last sentence of the featured snippet text and mentions the name of the business. Google doesn’t say exactly how it chooses featured snippets, but following best practices for your FAQ page and site formatting will increase the likelihood of your FAQ ranking well. For more tips, check out our blog post with 5 ranking strategies for featured snippets !   How Do I Write a Good FAQ Page? To create an effective FAQ page, answer these questions. 1. What keywords are customers looking for? Use your analytics dashboard to see how people find your site in searches. If you’re starting a new business, you can research keyword phrases in Google Keyword Planner and Soovle. 2. What’s on my competitor’s FAQ page? See what Q&As they include and which keywords they focus on, but remember that they may not have optimized their FAQ page. Use keyword analysis tools (see above) to decide if they’re on the right track. If so, you may want to include similar (but not too similar) content. If not, don’t follow their lead. 3. Are your questions phrased the way customers will write or ask them? Try typing your questions in your browser’s search bar to get a sense of how people key in those questions. Then ask your questions on your mobile device or digital assistant to hear what sounds natural. Next, write your natural-sounding questions and answers in short, clear sentences that will look good on a mobile or desktop screen. Now, read them out loud. If they sound weird or confusing, rewrite them until you can imagine Siri reading them. 4. Is your FAQ page formatted properly? Group your FAQs by category if you have more than one type of question in categories like shipping, services, products, or something else. Use your carefully researched keywords in the page’s meta tags. Include relevant links to the products or services mentioned in your FAQ. Add contact info so people who didn’t find the answer they wanted can ask your directly, and wrap up the FAQ with a call to action like “shop now,” “book now,” or “contact us.”   Want to learn more about putting together a website that helps your new business grow? Make sure your site includes these must-have elements . Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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